Ernest McCarty is known for playing with Erroll Garner from 1970 until Garner's death in 1977, as well as for plays he has written, scored and directed.
10 Facts About Ernest McCarty
Ernest McCarty's mother had some Native American ancestry and his father was part Scottish and insisted he use "Junior" after his name.
Ernest McCarty lived in New York for a long time, and moved to Pittsburgh in 1993.
Ernest McCarty played his bass on his front porch during the COVID era.
Ernest McCarty attended DuSable High School, where the music instructor Captain Walter Dyett chose him to play bass and so he learned the instrument.
Ernest McCarty was in the Chicago Youth Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra.
Ernest McCarty was scheduled to audition for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra but wasn't allowed to audition because he was Black.
Ernest McCarty attended Roosevelt University where he took his first formal lessons in string bass.
Ernest McCarty has performed with Odetta, Ike and Tina Turner, and Gloria Gaynor.
Ernest McCarty has written or co-written more than 25 plays and musicals and acted as artistic director for New Horizons Theater in Pittsburgh from 1994 through 2008.